North Carolina's Caleb Wilson has been compared to a six-time NBA All-Star.
A draft scout has compared North Carolina's Caleb Wilson to a six-time NBA All-Star.
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has Jermaine O'Neal as Wilson's pro comp.
O'Neal played in the NBA from 1996 to 2014. He made six All-Star teams and three All-NBA teams and averaged 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. His best season was in 2004-05, when he averaged 24.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game for the Indiana Pacers.
Wilson appeared in 24 games for UNC this season. He averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest while shooting 57.8% from the field, 25.9% from beyond the arc and 71.3% from the free-throw line.
Wilson's season was cut short by injury. He broke a bone in his left hand and broke his right thumb in a non-contact drill.
Wilson was named a second-team Associated Press All-American, a distinction that will ensure that he will be included among the honored jerseys in the Smith Center rafters.
Wilson announced on X on Monday that he's declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft. It will be entertaining to see where he's playing next season.
"What's up Tar Heel nation. It's Caleb here," Wilson said. "This past year has been the most fun year of my life. Although it has been filled with a lot of growth and adversity, I will always cherish this university and the people that make this place what it is. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to represent North Carolina. Wearing No. 8, running out of that historic tunnel every day for practice and games and I'm happy to say every day I gave it my all.
"Lastly, I would like to thank my family, coaches, fans and support system, especially my head coach, the Godfather of Chapel Hill Hoots and my academic advisor Jenn, who always checked on me in my toughest times. With that being said, I will declare for the 2026 NBA Draft. Go Heels."
If Wilson can have a career like O'Neal's, that would be a huge success.
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